West Orange WEHI preliminary report

3 Results of the project revealed that compost used alone produced better results than either of the areas treated with hydromulch or the area treated with compost and fertilizer. While the areas with the hydromulch/fertilizer combination showed quick initial vegetative growth, the areas treated with only compost persevered within 6 months, out-perform- ing the traditional method by establishing a thick, healthy vegetative cover. The growth in the com- post/fertilizer plot was superior to that found in the hydromulch/fertilizer plots. A possible explanation for compost alone out-performing the area treated with compost and fertilizer is that chemical fertiliz- ers often increase soil salinity, which in turn could negatively affect the beneficial micro-organisms in compost and inhibit the establishment of healthy grasses. Photos courtesy of The Federal Highway Administration, Office of Environment & Planning, and Federal Lands Highway Program Embankment adjacent to new intersection. Top left photo shows hillside before seeding. Photo at right shows grass cover. Compost-treated plot displays darker green color and thicker growth. UUssiinngg CCoommppoosstt ttoo RReemmeeddiiaattee TTuurrff GGrraasssseess roviding safe, uniform playing surfaces for recreational activities, such as golf, football, soccer, and other field sports, requires intensive turf management. Recreational turf grasses are subjected to extensive wear and tear, making them difficult to manage and highly susceptible to turf diseases, pests, and soil compaction. To address these prob- lems, turf managers traditionally use a combination of fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and aeration techniques that usually result in high costs and potential for negative environmental impacts. Some turf managers are now using compost to replace peat moss in their topdressing applications based on its proven success in suppressing plant disease. Compost, when properly formulated, unlike peat moss, is teeming with nutrients and micro-organisms that stimulate turf establishment and increase its resistance to common turf diseases, such as snow mold, brown patch, and dollar spot. For example, after 3 years of using compost as a topdressing, the Country Club of Rochester, New York, has nearly eliminated the need for fungicide applications for such diseases. AAlllleevviiaattiinngg SSooiill CCoommppaaccttiioonn Soil

ompost as a topdressing, the Country Club of Rochester, New York, has nearly eliminated the need for fungicide applications for such diseases. AAlllleevviiaattiinngg SSooiill CCoommppaaccttiioonn Soil compaction is another persistent landscape management problem, particularly in areas of heavy traffic, such as parks, zoos, golf courses, and athlet- ic playing fields. Compacted soil impedes healthy turf establishment by inhibiting the movement of air, water, and nutrients within the soil. Bare soil, weeds, increased runoff, and puddling after heavy rains are the most obvious signs of a soil com- paction problem. Traditional methods for alleviating soil com- paction—aeration, reseeding, or complete resod- ding—are labor-intensive and expensive, and P